What Is a Polydioxanone (PDO) Thread Lift?

A thread lift is a procedure that uses a dissolvable suture to tighten and lift your skin. It’s a less invasive procedure than facelift surgery and can often be performed in under 45 minutes without needing to go under a scalpel.

Polydioxanone (PDO) thread lifts use a biodegradable polyester suture. They’re best suited for rejuvenating your skin while some newer types of thread lifts are better at lifting sagging skin.

Let’s take a look at what makes a PDO thread lift different from other thread lifts and what you can expect during the procedure.

PDO threads are one of three type of sutures commonly used in thread lift procedures. The other two types are made from polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCA).

PDO threads have been around the longest of the three and have been used in surgeries since the 1980s. They’re made from a colorless polyester that breaks down in your body after about 6 months.

The presence of these sutures in your skin triggers cells in your body called fibroblasts to produce more collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives your skin its structure and elasticity. Loss of collagen is one of the main causes of aging skin.

PDO threads can be further divided into three categories:

• PDO mono threads. Smooth sutures that help rejuvenate your skin by stimulating collagen production.
• PDO cog threads. These threads have barbs that latch into your skin like small fishhooks, to provide support and lift parts of your face.
• PDO screw threads. Made up of one or two intertwined threads, these are used to help restore volume to sunken parts of your skin.

Other types of threads

PLA and PCA threads are newer than PDO. They last longer in your body and tend to stimulate more collagen production. PLA threads take about 12 months to be absorbed and PCA takes about 12 to 15 months.

Each type of thread is best suited for a particular function. PDO threads are better at repositing and revitalizing tissue while PLA and PCA threads are better at lifting sagging parts of your skin.